Spring has sprung: J. Carver Distillery Events and Bourbon Whiskey

Some say good news, bad news. At J. Carver Distillery, we say good news and great news. The good news is we have a number of special events and liquor store tastings occurring in the Twin Cities highlighting our line of J. Carver spirits. Store locations and times are detailed on our website Events tab. Looking for an event that will certainly make your taste buds do a jig? One of these fabulous events is being hosted by Sanctuary Restaurant in Minneapolis. Sanctuary Executive Chef Patrick Atanalian has created a special one night menu this Thursday, March 24, from 5-9 pm incorporating J. Carver Distillery gin, vodka, and whiskey. For reservations, call 612-339-5058 or go online. Stay tuned for details regarding a speculator gin event at Black Forest Inn Minneapolis on April 6th. Erica and team have some great surprises up their sleeves or lederhosen as the case may be.  

Sanctuary Restaurant Minneapolis 

The great news is spring is in the air just in time for the release of one of the first grain-to glass bourbons distilled in Minnesota. J. Carver Bourbon Whiskey has a mash bill of 75% local corn from Plato, MN and 25% local rye from Clear Lake, MN, and has been aged in oak barrels coopered in Avon and Park Rapids, Minnesota. We are thrilled with the response we have received. Check out the feature written by Loren Green with City Pages and another by The Whiskey Wash, a website dedicated to all things whiskey. 

J. Carver Bourbon Whiskey Batch No. 1

From our press release: "J. Carver Bourbon Whiskey offers the sweetness of corn with a spicy rye finish. While it is crafted for straight sipping, its notes of cinnamon, toffee and oak make it ideal for drinks with bourbon as the central focus. J. Carver Bourbon Whiskey mixes exceptionally well in classic cocktails including the Old Fashioned, Manhattan and Sazerac." 

J. Carver Bourbon Whiskey Old Fashioned served straight up

Try our featured specialty J. Carver Bourbon Whiskey Ginger Old Fashioned. Enjoy straight up or on the rocks. Here is the recipe:

2 oz J. Carver Bourbon Whiskey
½ oz Ginger Simple Syrup
3 dashes bitters Jamaican #1
Shake and strain in a chilled martini glass or serve over ice in a low ball glass and garnish with an orange slice and a bourbon cherry. 

Another thing putting a spring in our step is the celebration of Easter this weekend. Not too early for the Easter Bunny to start making his rounds. Maybe there is a basket of J. Carver spirits hidden for libation lover in your family. Speaking of Easter, J. Carver Distillery will be closed this weekend so our team can spend time with family and friends.  We will resume regularly scheduled cocktail room hours and tours and tastings on Friday, April 1 and Saturday, April 2. Enjoy the spring season everyone and don’t forget to take time to smell the flowers, breathe the fresh air, and enjoy some J. Carver spirits and specialty cocktail to welcome the new season. Happy Easter from our J. Carver Distillery Family to you and yours. Cheers!

The Cocktailian, Restaurants, Spirit Shops, and Gifts of the Season

The most wonderful time of year is here and the hustle and bustle of the season has kept us on our toes at the distillery and around town. The focus has been on production and keeping the J. Carver Premium Vodka and Premium Gin flowing. The Distillery team has been busy pouring at festive events like the Cocktailian at the Varsity Theater last week. J. Carver crafted two specialty drinks, the “Botanical Lady” and “Maple Kiss” which were enjoyed by over 843 guests at the Cocktailian. Thank you to City Pages for inviting J. Carver Distillery to participate in this amazing event with a portion of the proceeds benefiting “Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry Campaign.” 

Botanical Lady
Ingredients
3 oz J. Carver Premium Gin
1 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 oz thyme-infused simple syrup
Shake all ingredients and strain in a Martini glass. Garnish with a thyme sprig.

Maple Kiss
Ingredients
1 oz J. Carver Premium Vodka
2 oz Chilled hard apple cider (Pacific Coast Hard Apple Cider)
Drizzle with REAL Minnesota Maple syrup
Shake all ingredients and strain in a Martini glass.

Other events have included pouring at liquor stores and specialty shops around town. A popular tasting was at The Vintage in Chanhassen. J. Carver Vodka served with Jack Rudy Elderflower tonic was tasty and refreshing. This cocktail can be made as a Martini or served over ice in a Collins glass. 

J. Carver Elderflower Tonic
Ingredients:
2 oz J. Carver Premium Vodka
1 oz Jack Rudy Elderflower tonic
½ simple syrup
¾ oz fresh lemon juice

Out and about and around town, bars and restaurants are shaking things up with J. Carver craft spirits creating drinks and expanding their specialty cocktail programs - exciting times in the spirits industry. 

At Lola’s Lake House in Waconia, our table enjoyed an array of cocktails including the classic Lemon Drop Martini and Orange Martini, the J. Carver Vodka Cosmopolitan and Lola’s specialty Fireside Martini made with J. Carver Premium Vodka. Delicious!

The ever popular Moscow Mule and specialty martinis were enjoyed by all listening to talented local artists singing classic Christmas carols at School of the Wise 2 in Chanhassen. SOW2 is all about local. Stop by and check out this neighborhood gathering place supporting J. Carver craft spirits distilled just down the road. 

Many have asked during our open house last week and we are pleased to announce rye whiskey and apple brandy that are aging in barrels made right here in Minnesota. And yes, the rye and apples are local too. For the Bourbon lovers out there, patience is a virtue, but do not fret, we are working on Bourbon too.

Need a little help deciding what to get that special someone on your list? How about gift ideas from your backyard and the gift of J. Carver Distillery Minnesota craft spirits? It is a party in a bottle. J. Carver Premium Vodka and Premium Gin are available at local liquor stores around town. Keep local gifts in mind. Cheers!